Kuman Di Seberang Laut Nampak

So much has been said about violence and vandalism among schoolchildren and teenagers. Today, it's this. It's always easy to blame the West, TV, violent movies, video games, Linkin Park. But honestly, are we to believe that hooliganism is purely a byproduct of the media? I remember fights like this when I was in boarding school, and that was 10 years ago. Go back another 10, 20 even and I'm pretty sure this 'gaduh' phenomena was already there. I've heard enough stories to think otherwise.

So who do we blame? Let's start with ourselves. It's not as difficult as it sounds, really. Start with how we have more TV dinners than anything else. Start with how we expect children to follow what we teach, when it's what we DO that gets stuck in their brains. Ever overtaken a car on the wrong side of the road or the emergency lane? Your kid is watching. Threw rubbish out the car? Ditto. And then we yell, cry and point fingers at the evil, Zionist TV, or that devilish tool, video games.

So where's the Gajah, you ask? It's here. Right in front of our noses. P Ramlee made movies about it, and we laughed, not realising he was showing us what really was. It's our fault, ladies and gentlemen. We chase after the Big Buck, so we leave our kids with Indonesian/Filipino maids then get all miffed when they start speaking Tagalog better than Malay. Interest in a child's day? God forbid. It saddens me greatly to mention this, but about the only time I've ever heard a parent asking a 6-7 year old child how their day at school went was at BSC and in Hartamas. Did I mention they were all expats? Well, I just did.

So what about the kampungs, you ask? They surely don't have maids there. Like I said, watch any P Ramlee movie. Notice how there's always a Sarip Dol? There's been bullies in our villages and schools for ages. We all like to think that just by 'returning to our traditional values' all the evils will go away. Not so, IMHO. Traditional values will be nothing more than superstition if no effort is spent actually practicing and adapting them to our increasingly 'global' society. I guess the point of this rant is that before it's too late, we need to get in touch again. With our kids, and our families. I know it's easier said than done, but a little affection goes a long way. I can only pray that no more potential doctors, lawyers and astronauts are needlessly killed or hurt.

Amen.